Print plate magazine and feeding means in address printing machine



Aprll 4, 1967 G- v. LIKENS PRINT PLATE MAGAZINE AND FEEDING MEANS IN ADDRESS PRINTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 12, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet I GLEN L L/KE/VS lA/VE'NTOR BUG/(HORN, 5L ORE, K LAROU/S T 8 SPARK/MAN ATTORNEYS Apnl 4, 1967 G. v. LIKENS 3,312,162

PRINT PLATE MAGAZINE AND FEEDING MEANS IN ADDRESS PRINTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 12, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet :5

INVEA/TUR BUCKHORN, BLORE, KLAROU/ST 8 SPAR/(MAN ATTORNEYS p 4, 1967 G. v. LIKENS 3,312,162

PRINT PLATE MAGAZINE AND FEEDING MEANS v IN ADDRESS PRINTING MACHINE Flled Oct. 12, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 GLEN 1/ L/KE/VS INVENTOR Br BUG/(HORN, Emma, KLAROU/ST a SPAR/(MAN ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofi ice 3,312,162 Patented Apr. 4, 1967 3,312,162 PRINT PLATE MAGAZINE AND FEEDING MEANS IN ADDRESS PRINTING MACHINE Glen V. Likens, 1525 Windsor Drive, Gladstone, Oreg. 97027 Filed Oct. 12, 1964, Ser. No. 403,018 11 Claims. (Cl. 101-56) The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and more particularly to an addressing machine.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a small, compact, addressing machine which may be conveniently utilized in laundry or like route trucks.

More particularly it is an object of the invention to provide an addressing apparatus as aforesaid in which customer address plates may be arranged and utilized in the order of the route.

Another object is to provide an addressing apparatus as aforesaid wherein the address plates are retained within a replaceable magazine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent hereinafter.

In accordance with an illustrated embodiment, the addressing apparatus of the present invention comprises a compact housing adapted to be mounted within the cab of a laundry or like retail route service truck. A magazine containing a supply of printing plates is removably mounted within such housing, the plates being retained with such magazine in two vertical stacks. Means are provided on the housing to transfer the plates between such stacks so as to present such plates one-by-one to a position wherein they may be utilized to print an address or other information upon a laundry slip or the like. Apparatus for effecting such printing is provided on the housing.

I For a more detailed description of the invention reference is made to the accompanying drawings and the embodiment of the invention shown therein.

In the drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an addressing apparatus made in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation thereof with parts broken away;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view there-of with the plate retaining magazine removed;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the magazine;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken su'bstan tially along line 66 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line 77 of FIG. 3, parts being broken away to show certain details thereof; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 88 of FIG. 3.

With reference now to the drawings, the illustrated embodiment of the invention includes an outer housing 10, including outer side walls 12 and 14, an end wall 16 and a base or bottom plate 17 supported on a pedestal 19 adapted to be fixed to a supporting surface. Remova'bly mounted within the outer walls are inner side walls 18 and 20 disposed opposite to walls 12 and 14 respectively and an inner end wall 22. The inner side walls are removably mounted to the side walls 12 and 14 by means of brackets 24 and screws 26. Removably retained in the housing 110 by means to be described is a plate holding magazine 30 for holding a pair of vertical stacks 32, 34 of substantially horizontally disposed printing platesor address plates 36. As indicated in FIG. 6 it is desired to move the bottom plate 38 of the stack 32 from beneath such stack and dispose it at the bottom of the stack 34 while simultaneously moving the top plate 40 from the top of the stack 34 and disposing it on the top of the stack 32 so that by repeating such movement a sufficient number of times complete rotation of the position of the plates in the stacks may be obtained.

Means are provided within the magazine 30 for retaining the stacks 32, 34 parallel with the plates in substantial alignment vertically. The forward stack 32 is retained between the front plate 46 of the magazine and a pair of guides 48 mounted one on each of the opposite side plates 50 of the magazine. The rearward stack 34 is retained between the guide plates 48 and guides 52 also projecting inwardly from the side plates 50. As is indicated in FIG. 6 the edge of each of the guide plates 48 facing the stack 34 is bevelled along its lower portions 54 so as to guide the plates as they are moved from the bottom of the stack 32 beneath the stack 34 and forced upwardly as more fully to be described hereinafter so that eventually the plates form a substantially vertical stack with the plates disposed horizontally as indicated. Inwardly projecting flanges 56 are provided along the lower edge of the side plates 50 for supporting the stacks 32, 34. A rim 57 is provided around the top edge of the magazine and which rim is formed with flange 58 projecting over the plates to retain them within the magazine. The rim 57 is held in place by a pair of projections 59 extending from the magazine front wall 46 over the rim and a pin 60 extending rearwardly from the rear plate 61 of'the magazine through a cooperating opening in the rim. To exchange plates in the magazine the plate 61 is deflected to remove the pin 60 from the rim whereupon it can "be swung up to permit access to the magazine.

The magazine is removably mounted within the housing 10 by means of a pair of rails 62 provided one on each of the inner side walls 18 and 20 and cooperating projections 64 on the side plates 50 of the magazine defining grooves for receiving the rails. A pair of dogs 66 are provided on the magazine which'are adapted to slide laterally relative to the magazine. The dogs are mounted on guides 70 and a transversely extending rod 72, the dogs being biased outwardly by means of a spring 74. The dogs are adapted to engage in notches 76 provided in the housing inner side walls 18 and 20 to lock the magazine in the housing.

Means are provided to effect the movement of the bottom plate 38 and top plate 40 described above. In accordance with the illustrated embodiment, a pair of shuttles, including a top shuttle 82 and a bottom shuttle 8-4, are provided on the housing to effect this movement. The top shuttle 82.comprises a plate 86 which slides on the top edges of the housing inner side walls 18 and 20. The opposite ends of the plate 86 are bent' downwardly to define flanges 88 which engage the fiat side surfaces of racks '90 which extend along the top edges of the side walls 18 and 20. The center portion of the plate 86 is raised to define a recess 92 (FIG. 3) defined by opposite side walls 94 through which extends a rod 96 having a crank arm 98 adjacent to the inner side wall 20. A plate engaging element 100 is fixed to the rod 96 within the recess 92, the plate engaging element being provided with a downwardly turned end 102 which is adapted to engage the back edge of the top plate 40, as shown in FIG. 6 in the operative, plate engaging position of such element. The plate engaging element 100 is movable to an inoperative, non-plate engaging position as indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 6

' by means to be described.

on one end thereof. Secured to the rod 110 within the recess 106 is a bottom plate engaging element 114 having an upturned end or flange 116 adapted to engage the front edge of the bottom plate 38 as shown in FIG. 6. By rotation of the rod 110 the plate engaging element 114 may be moved between its operative, plate engaging position and an inoperative position as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 6.

Means are provided to effect reciprocation of the shuttles 82 and 84 in synchronism with each other but in opposite directions with respect to each other. Mounted in a suitable support 126 extending rearwardly from the end wall 122 is a hand crank 124 having a vertical shaft 127 to the lower end of which is fixed a crank arm 128 connected to a crank 130 which in turn is connected to the shuttle 84. As will be observed, rotation of the hand crank 124 will effect horizontal reciprocation of the shuttle 84 between the forward position thereof shown in solid lines in FIG. 6, and the rearward position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 6. The racks 90 attached to the top shuttle 82 and the racks 118 attached to the bottom shuttle 84 engage pinions 134 rotat-ably mounted on the inner side walls 18 and 20, as best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, whereby as the bottom shuttle 8-4 is reciprocated by the crank mechanism the upper shuttle 82 will be driven in the opposite direction.

Means are provided to shift the plate engaging elements 100 and 114 between the operative and inoperative positions. Pivotally mounted on a bracket 136 extending upwardly from the top shuttle plate 86 is -a lever 138 connected by a tension spring 140 to the crank arm 98. The lever 138 is provided with a pair of stops 142, 144 to limit its movement between a forward position shown in solid lines in FIG. 6 and a rearward position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 6. In such forward position of the lever the tension on the spring 140 is such as to cause the crank arm 98 to rotate to throw the plate engaging element 100 to its operative position in which the forward end of the element 100 engages the plate 86 and the plate engaging flange 102 is in position to engage the top plate 40 as shown in FIG. 6. In the rearward position of the lever 138 the spring 140 causes the crank arm 98 to rotate in the opposite direction so as to move the plate engaging element 100 to its inoperative position as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 6. The lever 138 slides within a groove 146 provided in a plate 148 fixed to the outer side Wall 12. The forward end of the plate 148- is formed with an abutment 150 against which the lever 138 engages in the forward position of the top shuttle 82 so as to throw such lever to its rearward position as shown in FIG. 6. Another abutment 152 is provided at the rearward end of the plate 148 and which engages the lever 138 when the top shuttle 82 reaches its rearward position to throw the lever forwardly thus to throw the plate engaging member 100 into operative plate engaging position.

Pivotally mounted on a bracket 158 (FIG. 8) extending downwardly from the bottom shuttle 84 is a lever 160 having stops 162, 163 adapted to engage the bracket to limit the throw of the lever. Such lever is connected at its upper end through a tension spring 164 to the crank arm 112 in such manner that throwing the lever from one of its limit positions to the other will cause the crank arm to rotate between limit positions in one of which the plate engaging element 114 is moved to its plate engaging position and in the other in which the element 114 is moved to its inoperative position. To effect such movement of the lever 160 a pair of abutments 166, 168 are provided on the housing side wall 12 as most clearly shown in FIG. 7. On the forward stroke of the shuttle plate 84 the lever 160 strikes the abutment 166 so as to move the lever to the position wherein the plate engaging element 114 is moved to plate engaging position. When the shuttle 84 reaches its rearward position the lever strikes the abutment 163 to effect movement of the plate engaging element 114 to its inoperative position.

Means are provided to retain the stack 34 so that the bottom surface of the lower plate thereof is just slightly above the plane of the upper surface of the lower plate 38 of the stack 32. As previously explained, the magazine 30 is provided with inwardly turned flanges 56 along side plates 50 thereof which engage the side edges of the lower printing plates of the stack-s to retain the same within the magazine. The flanges 56 are substantially horizontal beneath the stack 32 and the forward portion of the stack 34. However, as most clearly shown in FIG. 6, in a position near the rearward end of the stack 34, the flanges 56 are inclined upwardly to a position so that the portion of the plate resting on the rearward end of such flange is positioned above the plane of the top surface of the plate 38 in the stack 32. To support the forward end of the stack 34 in such elevated position, a pair of arms 172 having rollers 173 on the ends thereof are pivotally mounted on the base plate 22 of the housing. Such arms are fixedly secured to a shaft 174 pivotally secured to the base plate by a bracket 176 so that the arms may rotate between an elevated position shown in solid lines in FIG. 6 and a retracted position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 6. In the full elevated position of the arms they engage the bottom of the stack 34 so that the stack is supported by such arms and the rearward portion of the flanges 56 with the plates of stack 34 are substantially horizontal and with the bottom plate of the stack positioned above the plane of the top of plate 38. Thus, as the plate 38 is moved rearwardly from beneath the stack 32 it may proceed beneath the stack 34. Means are provided to retract the arms 172 including an arm 178 extending radially from one end of the shaft 174 and formed with a cam follower 180 which engages a cam member 182 extending downwardly from the shuttle 84. The cam member 182 is formed so as to permit the arms 172 to swing downwardly because of their greater weight than the arm 178, as the shuttle moves the plate 38 beneath the stack 34. As the shuttle 84 is moved forwardly to pick up another plate the cam 182 will engage arm 178 to swing the arms 172 upwardly to stack supporting position. As will be apparent, when the arms 172 are swung out of their stack supporting position the upper plates of the stack 34 will rest upon the plate 38 being moved beneath the such stack and which plate will slide under the lower plate of the stack 34 until it is in its fully retracted position.

Means are provided for transferring the information from the plates 32 to a laundry list or other receptive media. Mounted on the housing side wall 14 is a U shaped bracket having a pair of vertically spaced rolls 192, 194 thereon on which are rolled the opposite end portions of an ink ribbon 196. The ribbon 196 extends from the roll 192 over the top plate of the stack 32 down along the outer surface of the side wall 12 and thence back beneath the bottom of the housing base plate 22 to the. lower roll 194. A pressure roller 198 is rotatably mounted to one end of an arm 200 hinged at its opposite end to a second arm 202 which in turn is hingedly mounted on the top of the bracket 190. A spring 204 is provided on the arm 202 to urge the same to the rest position shown in FIG. 1 and a spring 206 is provided on the shaft 208 coupling the arms 190, 192 so as to urge the arm 200 to the position shown in FIG. 1. By manually raising the free end of the arm 202 and swinging it in the direction across the housing 10, the roller 198 is caused to roll across a laundry slip or the like placed over the ribbon 196 so that the type face on the plate 36 beneath such ribbon will cause the ribbon to print corresponding indicia on the paper overlying the same. Any suitable means may be provided to index the rolls 192, 194 to cause the ribbon 196 to progress stepwise from one roll to the other as the printing mechanism is operated. Since such means are well known they are not illustrated herein.

OPERATION The magazine 30 is inserted in the housing with the first plate from which it is desired to print positioned at the top of the stack 32. The succeeding plates are arranged so that the next plate it is desired to utilize is at the top of the stack 34 and the succeeding plates positioned in order down the stack 34 and then upwardly through the stack 32 so that the last plate which is to be utilized will be the one next below the top plate of the stack 32. We will assume that at the start of a cycle the apparatus is in the condition shown in solid lines in FIG. 6. After the desired information has been printed from the top plate of the stack 32 the operating handle 124 is rotated in the direction indicated so as to cause the bottom shuttle 84 to move rearwardly and the top shuttle 82 to move forwardly within the housing transferring the bottom plate 38 and top plate 40 as previously described. As the shuttle 84 moves rearwardly the cam member 182 thereof will cause the arms 172 to swing downwardly out 'of the way of the path of the plate 38 so that it may slide freely beneath the stack 34. At the forward position of the shuttle 82 the lever 138 will engage the forward abutment 150 to cause the plate engaging element 100 to swing upwardly so as to disengage it from the plate 40 which is now the top plate of the stack 32. At the same time, the lever 160 will engage the rearward abutment 168 to cause the plate engaging element 114 to swing downwardly so as to disengage from the edge of the plate 38 which is now at the bottom of the stack 34. As the revolution of the operating handle continues the shuttle 82 is moved rearwardly and the shuttle 84 is moved forwardly. As shuttle 84 is moved forwardly again the cam member 182 causes the arms 172 to swing upwardly to support the forward end of the stack 34 with the plates thereof horizontally disposed. When the shuttle 82 reaches its rearmost position, the lever 138 strikes the abutment 152 whichcauses the lever to swing forwardly to cause the plate engaging element 100 to swing down into plate engaging position. At the same time the shuttle 84 will reach its forward position, the lever 138 will strike the abutment 166 whereupon the plate engaging element 114 will swing upwardly to plate engaging position. Movement of the operating handle 124 is then arrested and the printing mechanism operated to print the information on the plate now at the top of the stack 32. The handle 124 may then be rotated to start a new cycle to transfer a new plate to the top of stack 32 and a new plate to the bottom of stack 34. Such cycles are con tinued until the plates of the magazine 30 have been completely rotated. When all the plates of a magazine have been utilized it may be removed, a new magazine inserted in its place and the operation continued.

. As will be apparent to remove the magazine 30 from the housing the operating handle 124 is rotated so as to swing the arms 172 to their downward, out-of-the-way position, and the shuttles 82, 84 to the position wherein the operating elements 100, 114 are swung to an out-ofthe-way position.

Having illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention it should be apparent-that it permits of modification in arrangement and detail. I claim all such modifications as come within the scope and purview of the attached claims.

I claim:

1. In a printing machine for printing sheets by means of printing plates; 7

i3. plurality of flat printing plates, A

means for retaining said plates in a pair of vertical sideby-side stacks with said plates disposed horizontally, plate moving means for moving the bottom plate of one stack and placing it beneath the bottom of the other stack,

plate moving means for moving the top plate of said other stack and placing it upon the top of said one stack,

means for effecting simultaneous operation of both said plate moving means,

and printing means positioned adjacent one of said stacks and movable into superposed position to an end plate of said one stack to effect printing from said end plate upon a sheet positioned thereon.

2. In a printing machine for printing sheets by means of printing plates;

a plurality of fiat printing plates,

means for retaining said plates in a pair of vertical sideby-side stacks of equal numbers of plates with said plates disposed horizontally,

plate moving means for moving the bottom plate of one stack and placing it beneath the bottom of the other stack,

plate moving means for moving the top plate of said other stack and placing it upon the top of said one stack,

means for effecting simultaneous operation of both said plate moving means, a

and printing means positioned adjacent one of said stacks and movable into superposed position to an end plate of said one stack to effect printing from said end plate upon a sheet positioned thereon.

3. In a printing machine for printing sheets by means of printing plates;

a plurality of flat printing plates,

means for retaining said plates in a pair of vertical sideby-side stacks of equal numbers of plates with said plates disposed horizontally,

said means maintaining one of said stacks with the bottom thereof spaced above the bottom of the other stack by the thickness of one plate,

plate moving means for sliding the bottom plate of said other stack from beneath said other stack and sliding it beneath the bottom of said one stack,

plate moving means for sliding the top plate of said one stack from the top of said one stack and sliding it upon the top of said other stack,

and means for effecting simultaneous operation of both said plate moving means.

4. In an apparatus for printing from printing plates, an

housing;

a magazine for holding a supply of horizontally disposed fiat printing plates in a pair of parallel vertical stacks,

a plurality of plates in said magazine in said stacks,

means in said housing for removably mounting said magazine therein,

means on said housing operable to engagethe top plate of one of said stacks and move such top plate to the top of the other stack,

means on said housing operable to engage the bottom plate of said other stack and move such bottom plate to the bottom of said one stack,

and means for transferring information from an end plate 011 one of said stacks to a receptive media.

5. In an apparatus for printing from printing plates, an

housing;

a magazine for holding a supply of flat, horizontally disposed printing plates in a pair of parallel stacks, a plurality of plates in said magazine in said stacks, means in said housing for removably mounting said magazine therein,

plate moving means on said housing operable toengage the top plate of one of said stacks and move such top plate to the top of the other stack,

plate moving means on said housing operable to engage the bottom plate of said other stack and move such bottom plate to the bottom of said one stack,

operating means for effecting simultaneous operation of both said plate moving means,

and means for transferring information from an end plate on one of said stacks to a receptive media.

6. In an addressing machine the combination comprisa housing,

a pair of vertically spaced shuttles mounted in said housing for reciprocal horizontal movement,

means for driving said shuttle members in opposite directions with respect to each other,

means disposed between said shuttles for supporting a pair of vertical stacks of horizontally disposed printing plates,

a plurality of flat, horizontally disposed printing plates supported in said last mentioned means in a pair of vertical parallel stacks,

means on each of said shuttles for engaging a plate on an end of one of said stacks and moving it substantially horizontally to the corresponding end of the opposite stack,

and means for rendering said plate moving means of each shuttle operative in only one direction of movement thereof, the movement of plates by said shuttles being in opposite directions with respect to each other.

7. In an addressing machine the combination comprisa housing,

a pair of vertically spaced shuttles mounted in said housing for reciprocal horizontal movement,

means for driving said shuttle members in opposite directions with respect to each other,

a magazine for supporting a pair of vertical stacks of horizontally disposed printing plates,

a plurality of printing plates in said magazine disposed in a pair of vertical parallel stacks,

means in said housing removably supporting said magazine between said shuttle members,

means on each of said shuttles for engaging a plate on a corresponding end of one of said stacks and moving it horizontally to the end of the opposite stack,

and means for rendering said plate moving means of each shuttle operative in only one direction of movement thereof, the movement of plates -by said shuttles being in opposite directions with respect to each other.

8. In an addressing machine the combination comprising;

a housing,

a pair of vertically spaced shuttles mounted in said housing for reciprocal horizontal movement,

a plurality of flat printing plates,

means disposed between said shuttles for supporting said printing plates horizontally disposed in a pair of vertical stacks,

plate engaging means on each of said shuttles for engaging a plate on an end of one of said stacks and moving it substantially horizontally to the corresponding end of the opposite stack,

said plate engaging means each being movable between an operative, printing-plate-engaging position and an inoperative, non-printing-plate-engaging position,

means on said housing operatively arranged with said plate engaging means for effecting movement of said plate engaging means to said operative position during one direction of movement of said shuttles and to non-operative position during the opposite direction of movement of said shuttles,

and means for driving said shuttle members simultaneously in opposite direction with respect to each other.

9. In an addressing machine the combination comprising;

a housing,

a plurality of flat printing plates,

means in said housing for retaining said plates in a pair of vertical side-by-side stacks of equal numbers of plates with said plates disposed substantially hori zontally, a pair of shuttles movable horizontally one across the top and the other across the bottom of said stacks, plate engaging means on each of said shuttles for engaging a plate on the end of one of said stacks and moving it to the corresponding end of the other said stack,

gear means on said housing operatively connecting said shuttle means for driving the same in opposite directions with respect to each other,

means on each of said shuttles including an over-center lever means, for moving the corresponding plate engaging means between a plate engaging position and a non-engaging position,

means on said housing operable on movement of said shuttles to opposite ends of their travel engaging said lever means to move said plate engaging means from one of said positions to the other of said positions thereof,

means for retaining the bottom plate of said other stack disposed immediately above the level of the bottom plate of said one stack,

and means on said housing disposed above the top of one stack for effecting transfer of information on the top plate of said one stack to a receptive media.

10. In an addressing machine the combination comprising;

a housing,

a plurality of flat printing plates,

a magazine removably mounted in said housing f0 holding said printing plates in a pair of parallel vertical stacks of equal numbers,

a pair of shuttles movable horizontally one across the top and the other across the bottom of said magazine,

plate engaging means on each of said shuttles for engaging a plate on the end of one of said stacks and moving it to the corresponding end of the other said stack,

gear means on said housing operatively connecting said shuttle means for driving the same in opposite directions with respect to each other,

means on each of said shuttles for moving the corresponding plate engaging means between a plate engaging position and a non-engaging position, including an over-center lever means,

means on said housing operable on movement of said shuttles to opposite ends of their travel for engaging said lever means to move said plate engaging means from one of said positions to the other of said positions thereof,

means in said magazine for retaining the edge of the bottom plate of one of said stacks remote from the other of said stacks disposed immediately above the plane of the bottom of said other stack,

retractable means on said housing operable in one position thereof for retaining the end of said bottom plate of said one stack adjacent said other stack immediately above the plane of the'bottom plate of said other stack whereby said bottom plate of said other stack may slide freely beneath said bottom plate of said one stack,

and means for effecting retraction of said retractable means to an out-of-theway position as said bottom shuttle moves to a position beneath said one stack and back to stack elevating position as said shuttle moves back to a position beneath said other stack.

11. A magazine for retaining a plurality of printing plates comprising;

a rectangular housing, including a pair of opposite side walls and a pair of opposite end Walls,

guide means on said side Walls defining a pair of vertical channels for retaining a pair of parallel stacks of printing plates therein,

a plurality of printing plates in said guide means disposed in a pair of vertical rows,

said guide means permitting horizontal sliding movement of the bot-tom plate of one stack toward the other stack and the top plate of said other stack towards the one said stack,

and means on said housing for supporting the edge of the bottom plate of said other stack remote from said one stack at an elevation slightly above the elevation of the top surface of the bottom plate in said one stack and with the adjacent edge of said bottom plate of said other stack at the same elevation as the lower surface of said bottom plate of said one stack.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Gibbons 101--60 X Bonsall' 101 -6 0 Couch 10 1- 6 2 Barnes et a1. 101-61 Newman 101-61 X Clark 101-6'2 Runyan 10160 Burke 1O 160 Strawn 1 10 1- 56 SchifEman 101--69 WILLIAM B. PENN, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A PRINTING MACHINE FOR PRINTING SHEETS BY MEANS OF PRINTING PLATES; A PLURALITY OF FLAT PRINTING PLATES, MEANS FOR RETAINING SAID PLATES INA PAIR OF VERTICAL SIDEBY-SIDE STACKS WITH SAID PLATES DISPOSED HORIZONTALLY, PLATE MOVING MEANS FOR MOVING THE BOTTOM PLATE OF ONE STACK AND PLACING IT BENEATH THE BOTTOM OF THE OTHER STACK, PLATE MOVING MEANS FOR MOVING THE TOP PLATE OF SAID OTHER STACK AND PLACING IT UPON THE TOP OF SAID ONE STACK, MEANS FOR EFFECTING SIMULTANEOUS OPERATION OF BOTH SAID PLATE MOVING MEANS, AND PRINTING MEANS POSITIONED ADJACENT ONE OF SAID STACKS AND MOVABLE INTO SUPERPOSED POSITION TO AN END PLATE OF SAID ONE STACK TO EFFECT PRINTING FROM SAID END PLATE UPON A SHEET POSITIONED THEREON. 